How to Shop for Furniture

When furniture shopping, check the drawers and doors for construction quality.

Furniture shopping can overwhelm even the most confident consumers. You must choose from a seemingly countless number of brands, styles, options, and price points. Whether you need one finishing touch or a whole room full of furniture, preparing in advance and knowing what questions to ask will ensure long-term satisfaction--and will help you avoid costly mistakes.

Things You'll Need

• Metal measuring tape
• Paper
• Pencil
• Digital camera
• Printer
• Fabric swatches

Instructions

1. Sketch your room and jot down measurements for each area. Include the size of the space where you'll put the new piece, and the size and location of furniture already in the room. Draw a simple overhead view, and use a metal measuring tape for accuracy.

2. Photograph your room and furnishings--including rugs, artwork, window treatments, and furniture. Print the photos, ensuring they accurately depict colors and wood tones.

3. Gather fabric swatches from your existing upholstery. Take an arm cover or pillow, or snip the swatch often attached to the manufacturer's tag under the seat cushion. Add a fabric swatch from your window treatment, if you have one.

4. Set a budget for the new furniture. It's easier to avoid making emotional decisions and overextending when you already have an amount in mind.

5. Visit furniture stores. Even if you ultimately purchase online or by catalog, you need to see examples of the types of pieces you want. Pay attention to construction, fabrics, wood grains, finishes, and ornamental details. Ask to see wood samples for optional finishes and fabric samples for upholstery. It's impossible to determine comfort without sitting on upholstered furniture. If the store doesn't have the exact piece, ask to see one from the same manufacturer with identical cushions and springs.

6. Show the salesperson your fabric swatches, photos, and sketch. Ask for suggestions. Furniture stores often employ professional decorators to sell furniture, as they can better advise clients. Even if you already have a good idea of what you want, a fresh perspective never hurts. A professional may notice issues you haven't.

7. Buy the piece you want, not the one with the fastest delivery time. Special orders take longer, but the wait feels minimal compared to the length of time you'll own the piece.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider converting your sketch to scale. Use 1/4-inch graph paper, where each 1/4 inch represents 1 foot. Or try a free online room planner that converts the measurements for you. Stickley, Thomasville, and Bassett have free planners on their websites.

• When buying wood furniture, choose sturdy pieces that don't wobble. Look for signs of quality construction, like wood drawer glides, dovetailing, solid back panels, and corner blocks. Make sure doors and drawers open and close smoothly.

• For upholstered furniture, look for kiln-dried hardwood frames with dovetail or mortise-and-tenon joints, hand-tied springs, and aligning fabric patterns. Usually, the heavier a piece of upholstered furniture, the higher the quality.

• Use a credit card to pay for your purchase or for the deposit on a special order. You'll have more protection if something goes wrong.

References

• Wayne Shielly; Samuels Furniture; Memphis, Tennessee
• Demesne: Defining Wood Furniture Quality
• Better Homes and Gardens: Buying Upholstered Furniture

Resources

• Thomasville Furniture: Room Planner
• Stickley: Room Planner
• Bassett: Room Planner